It’s 2018, and we’ve all heard the phrase “New Year, New You”…but here’s the thing: being you is actually the best, because you’re the only you there could ever be! So instead of trying to reinvent yourself, why not read some nonfiction books to help yourself be the smartest, most interesting, well-informed person you could be? (Also, you’ll know so much it will be impossible not to impress people at parties.)

1776, by David McCullough
Hamilton fans, if you can’t get enough of Revolutionary history, this book is your next read. It follows both the North American and British sides of the conflict, and focuses on two leaders in particular: George Washington, and Red Coat commander William Howe. Factual but fun to read, American history that won’t put you to sleep.

Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow
Another mandatory pick for Hamilton fans; the book the musical is based on! Follow Hamilton’s haunting upbringing as a poor, but brilliant kid in the Caribbean who travels to America with the hope of changing the world…and the downfall he could not recover from.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
This true story confronts the collision of science and systemic racism with the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were taken without her consent for study…and are still living today.

The Origins of Totalitarianism, by Hannah Arendt
History can certainly inform the present….that is, if we the people aren’t informed. This book starts in the 1800’s and continues through World War I. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, history is history, and it never hurts to remember it.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII, by Alison Weir
On to a more scandalous historical figure…or six of them, actually! The wives of Henry VIII had interesting lives before they met him, and his impact on their lives—and in some cases, their deaths—altered history. Full of juicy details, this reads like a novel.

Cleopatra, A Life, by Stacy SchiffWho WAS Cleopatra, a woman built into life by myth and legend? Historian Stacy Schiff gives you access to her palace and a world that you MUST read to believe: incest, murder, poison, infidelity, and more…why isn’t there a TV show about her again?

MAUS I, by Art Spiegelman
I first read this book when I was young, but the story has stayed with me forever. The author shares the story of his father’s experience during the holocaust in graphic novel form, using animals instead of humans to detail the horrifying experience.

We Were Eight Years In Power, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
This collection of essays that follow President Obama’s two terms is a fascinating deep-dive into how race impacted Obama’s presidency and the ensuing 2016 election.

The New Jim Crow, by Michelle AlexanderHere’s an uncomfortable truth: The ripple effects of slavery and Jim Crow are still here due to a systemic mass incarceration problem, essentially enslaving millions of black men and women behind bars. Learn about this system of oppression in this difficult, but important book.

Night, by Elie Wiesel
This classic autobiography of one man’s journey to survive the Holocaust is a gripping portrait of both the depths of evil—and the precipice of hope—that human beings are capable of.

How Google Works, by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg
With terms like “net neutrality” leading in the news, it’s important to become informed on the intersection of tech and government…and where best to start than with Google? Learn about their founding history, philosophy, and what it takes to succeed there.

How We Got to Now, by Steven JohnsonThe modern world wasn’t built in a day, but it did innovate to evolve. This book is great for history buffs and factoid-finders (and maybe a reluctant reader or two, because there are illustrations!).

The Crown, by Robert LaceySeason Two of the hit Netflix TV show has aired, you’ve marathoned it already, and you want more! Check out the book the show is based on and relive all the shocking and emotional moments, this time on the page.

Mistress of the Vatican, by Eleanor HermanThis salacious non-fiction history delves into the sordid and secretive history of the Vatican, and the forgotten woman who helped a man become Pope.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson
Look, 2017 was a rough year. So maybe the secret to success is not caring so much? Read this book and pass along the gospel of not giving a f*ck to your friends.

Love Warrior, by Glennon Doyle
Glennon Doyle shares the heartbreaking story of learning her husband was unfaithful, and how she took her broken marriage and used the opportunity to piece herself back together again.

It’s Okay to Laugh, by Nora McIerneyThis memoir about a woman’s journey through becoming a young, widowed mother (and losing her father shortly after her husband’s death) is surprisingly hilarious. That’s what Nora does: she uses dark humor to guide herself through grief, and if you could use a little bit of that, this book is for you.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X, by Malcolm XA definitive figure of the Civil Rights Movement, Malcom X’s biography is essential reading when it comes to understanding current race relations in the United States. Learn about his upbringing, his conversion to Islam, and his activism.

Devil’s Bargain, by Joshua Green
Moving from the past political situation to the present, this book is essential reading for newfound politicos who want to enter 2018 informed and engaged. It details Steve Bannon’s relationship with President Trump, and what it took to get him elected.

Spark Joy, by Marie KondoWe all need a little more joy in our lives, so consult organizational specialist Marie Kondo for the ways you can get rid of clutter and make room in your heart for objects and people that make you happy.

Bullies, by Alex AbramovichA fascinating story of a man who befriends his childhood bully later in life, this story can teach you about reaching beyond your bubble, finding common ground in common pain, and the importance of forgiveness.

Hidden Figures, by Margot Lee Shetterly
Math is not my thing, but reading the story of the brilliant black women who got us to the moon totally is. These women worked as “human computers” and calculated what we would need to win the space race, but their stories have been lost to history until now.

Stamped from the Beginning, by Ibram X. KendiBe an informed citizen and read this detailed account of racism in America. Using the stories of prominent American intellectuals to frame the debates of assimilationists, segregationists, racists, and allies.

Being Nixon, by Evan ThomasLearn about the man behind the Watergate scandal: his background with a troubled older brother, his service in the Navy, and his political ascent. We tend to define historical figures by one event, and this biography shares the whole picture.

In the Garden of Beasts, by Erik LarsonImagine being an American in the government….working with Adolf Hitler. This fascinating true story follows the Ambassador to Hitler’s Third Reich, William E. Dodd, and his family, as they enter the garden, are charmed by the snake, and witness the atrocities firsthand.

Escape from Camp 14, by Blaine Harden
We know most things about Hitler’s Germany, but North Korea’s totalitarian regime is still, in many ways, a mystery. This is the haunting story of a person born inside a North Korean prison camp who escaped—after witnessing the executions of his family, being taught to distrust his fellow prisoners, and even fighting his mother for food.

Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson
The definitive text on the urgency of man-made harm to planet Earth, this book follows the banning of DDT and the sweeping reform that followed.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, by Elena FavilliThis book rides the border between fiction and non-fiction, but I’ll allow it, because it’s so cool. Reinvented stories about amazing women throughout history using fairytales as a framing device? Read this book yourself, then get it for everyone you know.

What Happened, by Hillary ClintonHave you been living under a rock, or are just too busy/depressed/overwhelmed to deal with politics? Start 2018 on an informed note by reading the first female candidate for President’s account of the 2016 election.

World Without Mind, by Franklin FoerTechnology is the defining innovation of our time…but is it also the greatest threat? This book tracks the history of technological innovation, especially on the internet, and how it presents unseen dangers we need to prepare ourselves for.

The Blood of Emmett Till, by Timothy B. TysonWe see stories of police brutality daily, but this story of civilian brutality had inexorable consequences on the Civil Rights Movement. Who was Emmett Till? And why has his murder shaped American history?

Shrill, by Lindy WestThis memoir-slash-lifestyle guide for how to be a loud feminist who takes up space in a world that often wants women to be quiet, sweet, and invisible, is full of true stories about the importance of speaking out, showing up, and not caring if people call you “shrill.”

Sex Object, by Jessica ValentiThis book, on a similar theme, explores the impacts of sexism on the day-to-day lives of women.

Muslim Girl, by Amani Al-KhatahtbehThis painful and beautiful memoir details the reality of growing up Muslim in the wake of 9/11, and how Amani struggling with the impact of Islamophobia before launching her groundbreaking website.

Orientalism, by Edward SaidThe origins of the problematic view of “orientalism” still persists, but this classic book breaks down the cultural and political perspectives of the Middle and Near East, aiming to combat prejudiced western philosophy.

Welcome to the Universe, by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard GottSomething for the science nerd! (Or, aspiring science nerd.) Take a tour of the universe (literally) with renowned scientists explaining planets, aliens, and so much more.

Salt: A World History, by Mark KurlanskyHave you ever thought of the history of things we use every day, and totally take for granted? I never thought of salt as having a history, but it does, and this interesting book details where it comes from, and why it matters so much.

Cooked, by Michael PollanThis memoir is one of the most unique on the list, structurally and content-wise! It follows a food writer’s journey through exploring the different ways we cook things—with fire, water, air, and earth—and mastering the techniques we use to perfect our food.

Yes Please, by Amy PohelerA funny memoir by one of the best comediennes ever, read about Amy’s (rough) beginnings in Hollywood, her persistent optimism, and why she loves being funny.

Bossypants, by Tina FeyIf you read Amy’s memoir, you have to read her BFF’s! Tina Fey is wry, witty, and has lots to say on what it takes to succeed as a woman in a man’s world in this hilarious book.

Wild, by Cheryl StrayedWhen your life collapses and there’s nothing left, where do you go? For Cheryl Strayed, to the Pacific Crest Trail, to figure out what she wants and who she wants to be by putting her body to the ultimate physical test.

Unbroken, by Laura HillenbrandThe story of a pilot brought down during World War II begins with a boy who would become an Olympian, despite a difficult childhood with a tendency towards defiance. It’s that defiance which saved his life years later in the Pacific Ocean, with only a life raft to guide him home.

Victoria the Queen, by Julia BairdShe was fifth in line for the throne, and only a teenager, but she became Queen. The second longest-reigning Queen in history, Victoria led a fascinating, passionate life: all of which is detailed in this book!

A Season With the Witch, by J.W. OckerSalem is an infamous place, ground zero to the 1692 Witch Trials. So when this writer decided to move his family to Salem in 2015 to experience Halloween in the most infamous stomping ground for witches.

Radium Girls, by Kate MooreRadium is everywhere; in everything, and considered an essential ingredient to the beauty industry during World War I. But there is a dark underbelly to this element, experienced by girls working in factories to produce it who suddenly become ill.

Year of Yes, by Shonda RhimesPart how-to guide, part memoir, this uplifting (and short, perfect for commutes!) read by showrunner and TV writer extraordinaire Shonda Rhimes is the guide to positivity you need going into 2018.

We Should All be Feminists, by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieBased on her incredible TED Talk, this book explores the intersections of women’s issues, politics, and race using the author’s own experience against the backdrop of history.

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Roxane Gay’s essays on what it means to be a woman of color in the modern age are funny and profound, and touch upon everything from pop-culture, how Hollywood approaches rape, privilege, and much more. You’ll certainly impress at a cocktail party with some insights from this one.

Some people can sit down and write the story of their lives in a clear and straightforward fashion and be done. Other people, like New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast—author of wise, honest, unreasonably entertaining new graphic memoir about aging, Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?—approach autobiography per Emily Dickinson’s legendary advice:

Tell all the truth but tell it slant—

Success in Circuit lies

Too bright for our infirm Delight

The Truth’s superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased

With explanation kind

The Truth must dazzle gradually

Or every man be blind—

Like Chast and Dickinson herself, the writers below became famous by telling their truth but telling it slant, disguised as fiction, cartoon, essay, instruction, or comedy:

The Fountain Overflows, by Rebecca West
The daughter of eccentric London intellectuals, West turned her dysfunctional childhood into a top-notch novel, which has since become a classic. Wry and eerie by turns, and generally delightful throughout.

Maus I and II, by Art Spiegelman
Sometimes the counterintuitive idea—like rendering a memoir of the Holocaust as a comic book, where Jews are mice and Nazis are cats—is the brilliant one that transcends genre altogether. The horrifying true story of Spiegelman’s father’s family changed how we think about high art and, in the process, won a Pulitzer Prize.

Postcards From the Edge, by Carrie Fisher
The stories Fisher tells in her debut “novel” about growing up in Hollywood wrestling with success, the aftermath of success, drug addiction, bad taste in men, and a once-famous, now-decrepit, always-crazy mother (Debbie Reynolds) are too raw to be made up and too amazing to be true. The only sensible course of action is to stop trying to decide what to believe and just enjoy. (Then, bonus! Enjoy the movie, starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine having the time of their lives.)

PAIR WITH: Other 20th-century classic novels-from-life: Fear of Flying, by Erica Jong, and The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath. After meeting literary alter egos Isadora Wing and Esther Greenwood, American popular culture would never be the same. One has to wonder how these books would have worked as straight-up memoir instead of fake fiction, but ultimately the story is what counts, and both of these gripping, feminist stories, for very different yet related reasons, needed to be told.

Bird By Bird, by Anne LamottBay Area literary guru Lamott is beloved, a sage who is candid and generous and who has nonetheless not risen above vanity, who can laugh at her own flaws and help the rest of us love ourselves a little better too. Although she has written several more straightforward memoirs, she found her voice, as the writing teachers say, while composing this writing manual that serves equally well as a guide for life.

PAIR WITH: The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life, by Ann Patchett, and On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King.The only writing advice worth reading, it turns out, comes from authors willing to look back over their own lives, recognize and enumerate their mistakes, and acknowledge that success is a combination of luck, work, and talent over which people have very limited control—and, in doing so, give readers a fascinating glance at the individual behind the sign reading “Men At Work.”

The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them, by Elif Batuman
Turkish essayist Batuman, unable to free herself from her obsession with Tolstoy and the other pre-Soviet greats, gets a Ph.D in Russian literature—so how does she end up in Uzbekistan? The same kind of happy accident that brought her to Samarkand launched this highbrow, eccentric, and highly revealing book-about-books, released only in paperback and not expected to sell, onto “best of” lists and made it a surprise success.

One Man’s Meat, by E.B. White
White is one of America’s greatest observers, and these essays, written on and about his farm in Maine in the 1930s, show his reverence for dry humor, small towns, and the life of the mind. A contemporaneous blurb from the Yale Review proclaims it “Good writing,” which is about as hilarious an understatement as could be made. These essays are revelatory and transformative, even when they’re only, supposedly, about chickens.